St. Louis Blues Salary Cap: The Defensive Edition

As we come down to the trade deadline, it’s good to take stock and examine where the St. Louis Blues salary cap is being spent.

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Is their money being frittered away on relatively useless players? Are there one or two contracts they’re holding on to that make no sense? Here, we examine which players are more cost-effective, or, who produces the most points per dollar spent on them. Today we will focus on the defense.

Defenders aren’t required to put up points as regularly as forwards are. Their blue-line counterparts’ job is focused on events that aren’t as easy to follow or quantify. Moving the puck out of the zone, keeping the puck from entering the zone, sending forwards scurrying and, most of all (and most difficult to quantify) forcing turnovers through smart play.

But while defensive play is essential, offensive pressure is just as important and defenders can make the difference between life and death for a team facing strong opposing defense.

So how much are we paying these defenders per point?

All data taken from NHL.com and Spotrac.com.

In total, the Blues have committed $23,035,000 in this year’s cap space to a total of 114 points (among other things). This, compared to the $37,586,667 St. Louis has committed to in this year’s cap space for forwards is significantly smaller, but taking into account that there are twice as many Blues forwards as there are defenders, we have to wonder why the defenders’ cap hit is so high.

Looking at the data, we can see the difference in the way the Blues treat their core forwards versus their core defenders, “core” being defined as players that have a contract with St. Louis for 5 years or more. Applied to forwards, that includes Backes, Oshie, Stastny and Steen.

All data taken from NHL.com and Spotrac.com

As a total, their core forwards take up $21 million in cap space and have scored 166 points. Their extraneous forwards cost $16,086,667 and are responsible for 195 points, the majority of which were scored by Tarasenko and Schwartz.

This tells us that the Blues generally employ players who are both physical and skilled — essentially, those who can play a Blues game. Tarasenko and Schwartz, who scored the majority of the points by non-core players, are outliers, and are outweighed by the Otts and Reaves of the team.

Our own A.P. Andes covers Tarasenko’s upcoming free agency, and how much the Blues should pay for him here, in this three-part series.

Next: Is Vladimir Tarasenko This Year's Steen, Or The Next Ovechkin?

Their defense, on the other hand, is mainly composed of defenders who specialize in defense. The two standouts, Shattenkirk and Pietrangelo, at 40 and 32 points respectively, also command two of the highest salaries (Bouwmeester aside) and defense-wise, these are two of the newest contracts the Blues have signed. This seems to be the new direction the Blues are going in: a skilled, aggressive defensive pair with some rough-and-tumble defensemen to back them up in Gunnarsson and Bouwmeester.

The winner of this game? Shattenkirk, without a doubt. Per-point he is one of the cheapest defenders on the market, let alone for the Blues, and his massive amount of goals and assists has helped to win more than one game. Cole might be the most cost-effective, but that is simply due to his salary being nearly as low as his points production. He has, however, proven himself to be a reliable defender who can back up nearly any player.

Feb 6, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; St Louis Blues defenseman Barret Jackman (5) and Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Matt Calvert (11) fight during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

The loser, I’d have to say is Barret Jackman. Despite Bouwmeester’s cost per-point being approximately twice that of Jackman’s, a few things go against Jackman, contract-wise. With Jackman’s contract up at the end of the season when he becomes a UFA, it looks more and more likely that the Blues will spend his $3.17 million elsewhere. His points aren’t high enough to warrant a top pairing, and his fights have never really helped the team, landing them on the penalty kill when they desperately need to be up. Bouwmeester is certainly more expensive per-point (wow, is he ever) but is defensively responsible, not to mention his storied history, having won an Olympic medal only last year, and a two-time NHL All-Star.

Jackman may be a leader for the Blues, and the longest-running Blue Note to date, but in the salary cap age his cost may simply be too high for what he brings to the table. When it comes down to it, this may be Jackman’s last season in St. Louis.

Next: St. Louis Blues Trade Rumors: Defense Wanted

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